Erasmus+ Testimonials

Erasmus+ supports for students and recent graduates to carry out traineeships, as well as training periods for staff working in higher education institutions.

Through Erasmus+, Natolin staff and students alike have benefitted from partnership exchanges with higher education institutions in an Erasmus+ Programme or Partner country, and from traineeships in enterprises, research institutes, laboratories, organizations, or any other relevant workplace located in EU Member States and third countries associated with the Programme.

For more about Erasmus+ traineeships for students, see here.
For more about Erasmus+ staff mobilities, see here.

 

Testimonies - Staff

"My ERASMUS+ experience in Timisoara was perhaps one of the most enriching in terms of work. After a year in Natolin, this training helped me to observe and analyze my work from another perspective that will allow me to improve the quality of my work. This, added to the beautiful experience of meeting people from other universities all over Europe, makes the Erasmus training a 360 learning model. I think everyone should experience it at least once."

Mr Luis Enrique SOUTO ALVAREZ (Student Affairs & Professional Development Office)

"Through Erasmus+ staff mobility I was able to connect with other institutions and colleagues working in the field, which was beneficial in two ways. On the one hand, it allowed me to learn about each other's best practices, and to analyse whether these can be incorporated into our day-to-day work. On the other hand, it served to share the best practices that we develop here in the College of Europe in Natolin. My mobility colleagues were fascinated by the richness and flexibility of our academic and extra-academic offer. In addition to all this, the ER+ mobility also had a positive impact on the development of my job skills."

Mr Álvaro GARROTE FUENTES (Natolin Innovation Lab, Development and Innovation Office)

Overall, the Erasmus+ mobility programme was a very good experience. It was very well received and some of the professors manifested their interest on both having mobilities to the College and to continue the cooperation. The students received very well the interactive simulation model and the professors were also impressed. On my side it helped me to prepare for my teaching activities and it improved my capabilities on teaching.”  

Mr Álvaro MARTÍN MORÁN (European Interdisciplinary Studies Department)

I believe participating in the International Staff Week in Slovenia, under the Erasmus+ staff mobility, was a remarkable experience and clearly had a positive impact on my professional and personal development. It provided very good space for sharing best practices, discussing common challenges from different perspectives with representatives from various European universities. The mobility was also a great opportunity for networking, coming up with ideas for potential future partnerships/cooperation, and could thus contribute to the overall work (mission) of our institute.”  

Ms Nargiz ABDULLAYEVA (Academic Administration Office)

Les projets ERASMUS + auxquelles j’ai eu la chance de participer m’ont permis de connaitre des experts dans mon domaine et de découvrir leurs pratiques et différentes méthodes d’enseignements. Chaque mobilité était très enrichissante pour moi, du point de vue personnel et professionnel. En effet, après chaque échange je sens que je progresse dans mes méthodes d’enseignements et que j’apporte une touche innovatrice à mes cours. Cela est que bénéfique pour moi, pour mes étudiants et pour notre institution.”  

Ms Lilla BACHA (Languages and Intercultural Dialogue Office)

“I participated within the ERASMUS+ PROGRAMME STT (Staff Mobility for Training) in a seminar for Slavic language teachers at the University of Applied Sciences BFI Vienna. Workshops, lectures, meetings and discussions with teachers of Slavic languages at European universities significantly enhanced my professional qualifications in the field of methodological innovations in language teaching. During the seminar I gathered considerable practical material (exercises, tests and lesson plans prepared by us), which I was able to use in this academic year. I consider the level and organization of the seminar very high and worth repeating. I would be happy to participate in a similar event again.”  

Dr Wojciech SOSNOWSKI (Languages and Intercultural Dialogue Office)

 

Testimonies - Alumni

"Erasmus+ provided me with a valuable opportunity to gain my first professional experience in my passion field, EU journalism. Through this program, I had the privilege of working with a renowned publication, confirming my commitment to pursuing a career in this domain. I highly recommend the Erasmus+ scholarship to every Natolin student aspiring to kickstart their professional journey in the EU bubble.

Navigating a new city abroad can be challenging, especially considering the rising cost of living and diminishing professional opportunities. However, the Erasmus+ scheme significantly eases this transition, making it simpler to explore your potential and develop your skills in the field of your choice. It has been a transformative experience that not only broadened my horizons but also equipped me with the tools needed to thrive in my chosen career path."

Ms Romane ARMANGAU

"My adventure in Brussels started with a traineeship at the Polish Electricity Association, supported by Erasmus+. This traineeship allowed me to discover the functioning of European institutions from an external point of view, and to gain practical experience of the energy sector and EU policy making. The support of Erasmus + was particularly useful at the beginning of my career to acquire new skills and progress in a new professional environment. It was also an opportunity to network with professionals from the public and private sectors. I would recommend the Erasmus + traineeship to anyone starting their career in the private sector and who is interested in European institutions." 

Mr Erwann MARTIN

“The support I received through the Erasmus+ scheme was invaluable in allowing me to experience a new type of work, in a new field, in a new country. I had previously worked in operations and policy making for the UK government, but after the college I began working, with the support of the scheme, as an editor in an EU-focused research institute. I continue to work there part-time, today, and have branched out into writing and commissioning research. The bureaucratic requirements are not onerous, and I encourage everyone who thinks they might benefit from the scheme to apply.”  

Dr Edwin HERCOCK

“2020 was in many ways a special year to graduate from the College of Europe and leave the Natolin Campus. The COVID-19 Pandemic had just reached Europe and young professionals were opening up to disrupted reality composed of lockdowns and paralysed labour markets. Specialising myself in European Interdisciplinary Studies as a scholarship holder by the European Civilization Chair with a focus on Cultural Policy, my first steps of my professional development could have been sharply impacted by this "new normal".

I was thereupon extremely grateful to the College of Europe to provide us with the opportunity to complement our studies with a two-month Erasmus Traineeship mobility grant. I had just graduated that I was able to join the European Think Tank Culture Solutions which specialisation was directly matching my centre of interest and the scope of action, meeting my professional ambitions. This placement was an incredible learning curve offering me a hands-on opportunity to collaborate in research and advocacy projects on International Cultural Relations and EU Cultural Diplomacy while getting exposure to the different functions performed by a think tank.

I found myself in a dynamic environment, working with highly professionals and commitment co-workers, whose drive, thoughtfulness and ambitions for the covered topics are still to date inspiring me. I could have not imagined a more concrete year to end my academic journey and transition to the labour market. This mobility grant equipped me the adequate skills to engage with EU affairs especially in a challenging context. The knowledge, contacts and skills I acquired through these two months as a young graduate directly fuelled my first professional steps this a Blue Book Traineeship in Cultural Policy and then a placement in the French Embassy to Slovakia as a Cultural Officer."

Ms Gabrielle BERNOVILLE

"I had opportunity to undertake my Erasmus+ at the Think Tank European Policy Centre in Belgrade. This experience allowed me to better understand the relation between the EU and the Western Balkan region, with specific focus on Serbia. There, I learned what important role the non-governmental sector plays within public administrations, and international organisation to foster EU accession of the candidate countries. Despite the skills I acquired, the most valuable part of the Erasmus+ was for me the opportunity to be on the ground and to better understand the political and societal situation in Serbia, which helped me reflect on how EU accession in the region could be fostered. I would recommend this enriching experience to everyone."

Ms Marina DOSIJANOSKI

"I gained valuable real-world experience through this (ER+) traineeship focused on administrative tasks, grant writing, outreach, and project collaboration while developing practical skills and expanding my professional network within the EU and beyond. The program offered the flexibility to work on initiatives matched to my interests and talents alongside an experienced team."

Mr Otto BARROW

"The Erasmus+ scholarship awarded to me by the College of Europe in Natolin at the end of my studies allowed me to launch my career in the EU. It provided me with much needed financial necessities when someone moves to another city but, more importantly, it directly helped me to move to Brussels and achieve my dreams. During these six months I have been able to put into practice everything I have learned in the last five years, I have met amazing people in a multicultural environment characteristic of the EU and I have developed new skills."

Mr Ángel MORENO RUBIO